I read Rochelle Greayer’s blog, Studio G, an ambitious compendium and commentary on all things garden and landscape design related, almost every day. One day she is seriously reflecting on how she interprets the body of information regarding the importance of organic food. The next I am seeing before and after photographs by a neighborhood gardener that does all their own work. This might be followed by information on new product design, a historically significant garden, or plants of interest. Speaking of interest, her interests have astonishing range. She does an incredible job of sorting, editing, distilling and reviewing. She writes beautifully. You know this, I am sure. But I would go on to say that she writes with a serious intent She is a garden journalist in the best sense of the word, but I so like that she crosses that over with impunity, and makes clear her own point of view, her questions and concerns. I recommend reading her. I promise you will be dazzled. www.studiogblog.com.

One of her features that I especially like is her monthly “blogs I like”. I have to say that when I made her list early last year, I was embarassed, but more than pleased. But more important than that, I like checking out what she is reading now. I so value how she shares. More often than not, her blog is a sturdy bridge to places I really need to visit. In February, a link to a blog she likes and reads every day- www.thinkingardens.co.uk. I spent a lot of time reading there over the past few days.

In plain view when this website comes up- an addendum. “for people who want more from gardening than a garden.” I instantly gravitated to this community to which I believe I belong. I read lots of their essays-many of which provoked me, and none of which disappointed. No doubt, I want more from gardening than a garden.

Why do I garden? First up, I love having my hands in the dirt. The dirt of my subdivision childhood- understand that I grew up in a neighborhood reclaimed from vast tracts of dirt. The dirt I am dealt, the dirt that is close by all the time, the dirt of my childhood-the dirt I make via composting-bring on the dirt. Once I was old enough to make the shocking discovery that dirt enabled life-this made me a gardener.

This is by way of saying that I no doubt I want more from gardening than a garden. I want a way of life. I want membership in any gardening group for whom the beauty of nature is a way of life. I want exchange. I want community. I want provocation. I want a considerable, serious, and continuing discussion of aesthetics. Many thanks for helping to provide this, Rochelle. Thanks to you, I have a new place to read essays about all of this, and more.

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About the Author

Deborah Silver is a landscape and garden designer whose firm, Deborah Silver and Co Inc, opened its doors in 1986. She opened Detroit Garden Works, a retail store devoted to fine and unusual garden ornament and specialty plants, in 1996. In 2004, she opened the Branch studio, a subsidiary of the landscape company which designs and manufactures garden ornament in a variety of media. Though her formal education is in English literature and biology, she worked as a fine artist in watercolor and pastel from 1972-1983. A job in a nursery, to help support herself as an artist in the early 80’s evolved into a career in landscape and garden design. Her landscape design and installation projects combine a thorough knowledge of horticulture with an artist’s eye for design. Her three companies provide a wide range of products and services to the serious gardener. She has been writing this journal style blog since April of 2009.